Redroger; Bob Dawson doesn't list 'Porrit'. But, then he doesn't really 'do' Irish Gypsy names in this book. So that sort of leaves that one up in the air, as far as we can take it with my one book of such matters.
Saying that though; As soon as I read 'Porrit', my mind wanted to say " Padraig ". See?
Hmm. Just in case anyone coming across this thinks, " What in blazes is the man on about?! ". Here's a break down: I once read a novel featuring a " Padraig ". Every time I read that name, my mind said "
Pad Raig ". I figured it was just the authors way of giving " Patrick " that Irish drag. I guessed the Irish spelled 'Patrick' as 'Padraig' as an Irish alternative.
Then, one night in the pub ~ here in Eire ~ I called a taxi. My friends asked me who I called and I told them " Pad'Raig ". Then watched in horror as the looks of " Eh?! ". " WTF's he on about?! ". "
Who?! ". Passed among them.
Five minutes later, in walked my 'Padraig' and all the locals started greeting him; " Ahh! Hullo,
PORRIG! ..... "
I learned. I've also since detected that a man can be 'Porri
ck' too. There's a distinction.
" Porrit " ? Again, like I say, nothing I can cite in lit. But ye see where I'm coming from?
" Tinker " ? I'd always believed that to be an occupational description. Like Smith. British, at that. Brit's call Irish and Scottish Gypsys 'Tinkers'. The Irish call them " Knackers ". That too stems from a job description; They often take the job of removing fallen livestock.
I think I'll stop there. Else we'll be off into the realms of
Romanes next, and I can already sense ye eyes glazing over!
